Keri Russell Boards Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Matt Reeves has found his female lead for the upcoming Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Variety reports that “The Americans” star Keri Russell will take on the still-unidentified part, joining Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Set 15 years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn finds most of humanity wiped out and the intelligent apes ruling over the world. Part of the film’s focus is said to be on a small group of San Francisco-based scientists that are forming a resistance against the apes and part follows Serkis’ Caesar as he, like his namesake, tries to maintain order and power within his new civilization.

Russell, a Bad Robot regular, previously worked with Reeves on “Felicity.” She has also appeared on the big screen in films like Mission: Impossible III, Waitress and August Rush.

Featuring a screenplay by Mark Bomback, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes starts filming this spring for a May 23, 2014 release. Peter Chernin, Dylan Clarke, Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa are producing.